Sometimes I wish I was bald. It would make a lot of things much easier, and life would be less expensive. No GHD, no expensive shampoos, no styling products (not that I have the talent or patience to use much of those!), no hair clips or hair bands. I would also be able to provide entertainment to my fellow divers: as Gerard pointed out in Sodwana, Goot’s bald head turns all manner of different hues at depth, like an angry octopus.
Fact remains, however, that I have hair, and quite a lot of it.
Why is this an issue? Well, hair gets in the way when you dive. The chief problem is that if a hair – even just one hair – gets between the silicone skirt of your mask, and your skin, your mask will leak. It’s why Tony shaves before a dive, and why girls (or boys) with long hair need to keep it out of the way in the water.
If you’re learning to dive (at least with Tony), you’re going to be taking your mask off – a lot. Putting it back on is going to be a pain in the nether regions if each time you have to push aside waves of free-floating locks. And getting all that hair off your face so your mask can seal is going to be well-nigh impossible.
Fear not – help is at hand.
Hoodies
Diving in Cape Town, I wear a hoodie most of the time. I make sure my hair is wet, or pulled back tightly, before I put the hoodie on, and lift it high over the top of my head before releasing it. Problem solved.
Swimming caps
In Sodwana, I dived with only one wetsuit, and no hoodie. The water was really warm, and I wanted to feel it. My hair, however, has a life of its own, and after one dive of doing a mermaid impersonation and losing all my hair accessories, I resorted to wearing the nylon swimming cap that I use when I do laps at gym. I am sure the others on the boat wanted to disown me, as it looks TOTALLY ridiculous, but it solved the hair problem and I really enjoyed my dives.
Because there are no air holes in the swim cap, I did look like a bit of a cone head. But everybody was very kind about that (at least to my face).
Hair clips and bands
Final solution, which will work if your hair is not too thick, or quite obedient. Clip it back, especially the fringe and any other short bits at the front, or use a hair band like Mariaan’s in the picture below to keep it under control.
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